The "Identi-Form," a system that includes defensible identification and prescriptive programing for gifted students, utilizes a holistic, multidimensional approach which incorporates test performance and ancedotal data in a total assessment package for each child. Sample case studies illustrate the approach. (Author/CL)

The author describes the concept of developmental potential that addresses the personality correlates of high ability and suggests an alternative to the IQ test method of identifying individuals with high potential. (CL)

Eight principles in effective advocacy for gifted students are offered, including statements that the make-up of an advocacy group is more important than its size; successful advocacy is hard, time consuming, costly work; and well-planned and organized group efforts are far more effective than isolated efforts by individuals. (CL)

Test results of 80 gifted four-six year olds confirmed the accuracy of parent recommendation, the high ability and achievement levels of the children, and their variability within achievement. Program adaptations included more mathematics teaching, individualized instruction, parent meetings, and allowance for inadequate handwriting skills and…

The article describes replies to a questionnaire by recipients of the MacArthur Fellows Program, an award given to individuals with uncommon abilities across a wide spectrum of creative pursuits. Replies touch on school and family backgrounds, acceleration, importance of grades, recognition of achievement, extracurricular activities, and…

Eighty-four teachers were asked to rate characteristics on a checklist as describing gifted, average, or below average students. Characteristics ascribed to below average students corresponded with patterns of gifted underachievers. Findings suggested the need to improve teacher recognition of student who underachieve. (CL)

An inventory of symptoms of stress is provided, and parents of gifted and talented children are advised to understand stress, learn to come to terms with their own feelings, develop effective behavioral skills, establish and maintain a strong support network, and accomplish lifestyle changes. (CL)

The author reviews varied concepts of differentiated curricula for gifted students and identified four curricula which must be considered: the general education curriculum, the specialized curriculum, the subliminal/covert curriculum (including affective factors), and the curriculum of nonschool educative settings. Factors involved in each of the…

The article discusses how to deal with the charge that special treatment of gifted and talented students necessarily leads to undesirable elitism. Among the various strategies offered for dealing with the charge are to ignore it, to clarify the term "elitism" and then show it to be a myth, and to show how differentiation of programing is essential…

The article explores the history of creativity in general and gives brief personal histories of eight individuals who were multiply creative. The study lists over 150 multiply creative persons, of whom only 31 were women. (PHR)

The debate between Renzulli and Jarrel and Borland concerning the nature of giftedness is addressed. Three criteria are proposed for evaluating any definition: (1) its actual reflection of how the construct is perceived; (2) its ability to generate empirical research; and (3) its practical usefulness. Multiple kinds of giftedness as well as…

This paper deals with the main aspects of the work carried out by the Center for Talented Youth Spain since its founding. The educational model applied here is based on the "Study of mathematically precocious youth", developed by Julian Stanley in the early seventies and currently the inspiration behind all the centers belonging to…